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We use a/an with singular countable nouns to talk about a person or thing for the first time.

A time capsule is a special container.

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We use the​ with singular countable nouns when we talk about them for the second time.

A time capsule is a special container. There are objects from a certain period in the container.

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​Note that we use no article ​with uncountable or plural nouns when we talk about them generally or for the first time.

​Time capsules are popular presents. They contain information from the past.

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However, if use them for the second time, it's the.

So what's the information in this container about? ​

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We also use the​ with nouns when we exactly know what we are talking about.

Could you close the door? It's cold in here.

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Or when there is only thing, with unique objects.

It all happened in the year 1912. ​

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We also use a​ with job titles.

He works as a project manager.

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Or when we have an adjective + noun mentioned for the first time.

Odesa is a cosmopolitan city. ​

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We also use the​ with superlative adjectives.

He is the best advisor that I could for.

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Or with some geographical names: seas, oceans, rivers (NOT lakes), plural country names, names of the areas

The Black sea, The Pacific ocean, The Dnipro river, the UK, the USA, the Netherlands, the east of Ukraine, the south of Africa​

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We also use no article​ with names of cities, countries, continents

He lives in Ukraine. He is from Zolochiv. ​

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We also use no article​ in some phrases with prepositions

at home, at work, at night, have breakfast, have lunch, have dinner, on time, by car, in charge

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But in some other phrases we use the ​

to the cinema, in the park, ​on the first, on the second, at the beginning, the same

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